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We're an American Band (song)

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"We're an American Band"
Single by Grand Funk Railroad
from the album We're an American Band
B-side"Creepin'"
ReleasedJuly 2, 1973
RecordedJune 1973
StudioCriteria (Miami)
GenreHard rock[1][2]
Length3:26
3:31 (2002 remix)
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Don Brewer
Producer(s)Todd Rundgren
Grand Funk Railroad singles chronology
"Rock & Roll Soul"
(1972) 		"We're an American Band"
(1973) 		"Walk Like a Man"
(1973)
Gold vinyl issue
Limited edition release
Music video
"We’re an American Band" on YouTube

"We're an American Band" is a No. 1 single by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. Released on July 2, 1973, from the band's album of the same name, it became the band's first single to top the Billboard charts[3]. Written by Don Brewer and produced by Todd Rundgren, its huge chart success broadened Grand Funk's appeal. In a 2023 interview, Brewer said the song, which stiches together snippets of events from the band's touring life, was written in an effort to garner the band more hits as FM radio stations transitioning into singles-oriented formats.[4]

According to Brewer, the song was not a rebuke to British band Humble Pie, who Grand Funk had previously toured with. [5]

It is the 99th song on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.[6]

Reception

Cash Box said that the "group comes through with powerful, chunky rhythms and meaningful lyrics."[7]

Charts

Cover Versions

"We're An American Band"
Single by Poison
from the album The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock
Released2006
Recorded2006
GenreRock
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Don Brewer
Poison singles chronology
"Shooting Star"
(2003) 		"We're An American Band"
(2006) 		"What I Like About You"
(2007)

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Tucker, Dan (February 28, 2014). "13 Classic Hard Rock Songs That Will Make You Scream "More Cowbell!"". VH1. Viacom. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (November 15, 2022). "Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name". The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. New York: Hachette Book Group. p. 176.
  3. ^ http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=We%27re+an+American+Band+by+Grand+Funk+Railroad&id=18258 |title=We're an American Band (song by Grand Funk Railroad) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts |website=Musicvf.com |date=1973-07-28 |access-date=2016-10-08}}
  4. ^ https://www.al.com/life/2023/10/grand-funk-railroad-the-story-behind-were-an-american-band.html
  5. ^ https://ultimateclassicrock.com/grand-funk-railroad-were-an-american-band-single/
  6. ^ "VH1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs". Music.spreadit.org. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  7. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 14, 1973. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  8. ^ "RPM100 Singles". Library and Archives Canada. 20 October 1973. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  9. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  10. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. December 26, 2017.
  11. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Poison - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  13. ^ https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-were-an-american-band/
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Grand Funk Railroad – We're an American Band". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
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